U=U / TaSP Sticky topic on the forum ?

[Jim Allen]

Hiya,

Looking for some input.

Earlier this week I added to the HIV Prevention sections Welcome Thread the below additional U=U/TaSP information.

It not indented to be a book on the topic but just brief information and links to some future information. 


Two things:

Firstly I am considering adding it as a sticky topic to the "Living with HIV" thread. What do you think?

Secondly I want to know if you feel anything needs to be added or changed to the message?

Best, Jim

Treatment as prevention (TasP) / Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U)

Antiretroviral medications (ARVs) are primarily used to increase the health and well-being of people living with the virus. Treatment guidelines recommend ARV treatment for all people living with HIV, regardless of their CD4 cell count.

Treatment as prevention (TasP) refers to the use of antiretroviral (ARV) medication to prevent HIV transmission.

A person living with HIV (PLHIV), who is on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) and has achieved an undetectable viral load* in their blood for at least 6 months, can not sexually transmit HIV. This is known as Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U)

(*undetectable viral load defined as less than 200 copies/milliliter)

For more information on TaSP:

https://www.poz.com/basics/hiv-basics/treatmentasprevention-tasp
https://www.poz.com/tag/Undetectable
https://www.preventionaccess.org/consensus

Undetectable Equals Untransmittable, Tips on how to communicate U=U
https://www.poz.com/article/undetectable-equals-untransmittable

Undetectable Equals Untransmittable, Poster on how to communicate U=U
https://www.poz.com/pdfs/uequalsu_poster_2019.pdf

[leatherman]

Firstly I am considering adding it as a sticky topic to the "Living with HIV" thread. What do you think?

I vote yes to sticky it. It's a very important tool towards ending the HIV epidemic

.... not to mention the added benefits to U=U
1) helping drive policy to ensure patients get into treatment asap
2) hopefully helping PLWH live a healthier life because of living with treated/suppressed HIV.

Secondly I want to know if you feel anything needs to be added or changed to the message?

short, sweet, links to more info.....looks good

unless you want to add something about the perk to the PLWH (not only does living with an UD VL mean you won't transmit HIV; but most often living with suppressed HIV leads to a person having better health in general) as a way to help sell it.

[harleymc]

yes yes yes

[daveR]

Yes it should be a permanent feature on here, help relieve some of the anxiety of new members may be.

Now if you can just have it stuck on the front page of every news paper. Magazine, internet web site and TV channel in the world to educate the non positive people, that would be an achievement worthy of a medal. LOL.

It looked informative and simple to get through which will help people read it.

Regards
Dave

[Jim Allen]

Now if you can just have it stuck on the front page of every news paper. Magazine, internet web site and TV channel in the world to educate the non positive people, that would be an achievement worthy of a medal. LOL.

I'll add it to my "to do list' 

[Jim Allen]

I vote yes to sticky it. It's a very important tool towards ending the HIV epidemic

.... not to mention the added benefits to U=U
1) helping drive policy to ensure patients get into treatment asap
2) hopefully helping PLWH live a healthier life because of living with treated/suppressed HIV.
short, sweet, links to more info.....looks good

unless you want to add something about the perk to the PLWH (not only does living with an UD VL mean you won't transmit HIV; but most often living with suppressed HIV leads to a person having better health in general) as a way to help sell it.

Thanks, agreed.

How does this sound as I want to keep it short.

"Taking HIV treatment (ART) & suppressing the virus also offers clear health benefits for PLHIV. There is now simply clear-cut proof of this.

As such the updated guidelines recommend not to delay treatment and, that anyone living with HIV should begin antiretroviral treatment as soon after diagnosis as possible, regardless of viral load or cd4 counts. "

yes yes yes

 

Yes it should be a permanent feature on here, help relieve some of the anxiety of new members may be.

It looked informative and simple to get through which will help people read it.

Regards
Dave

Indeed, I agree regarding the new members, and thanks for the feedback 

[leatherman]

How does this sound as I want to keep it short.

sounds good!

[Mindless]

Yes. Thanks Jim and all of you!

M.

[Jim Allen]

Yes. Thanks Jim and all of you!

M.

You're welcome

sounds good!

Okay so I updated the draft sticky to read as below:

Treatment as prevention (TasP) / Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U)

Antiretroviral medications (ARVs) are primarily used to increase the health & well-being of people living with the virus, taking HIV treatment (ART) & suppressing the virus offers clear health benefits for PLHIV. There is now simply clear-cut proof of this.

As such the updated guidelines recommend not to delay treatment and, that anyone living with HIV should begin antiretroviral treatment as soon after diagnosis as possible, regardless of viral load or cd4 counts.

Treatment as prevention (TasP) refers to the use of antiretroviral (ARV) medication to prevent HIV transmission.

A person living with HIV (PLHIV), who is on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) and has achieved an undetectable viral load* in their blood for at least 6 months, can not sexually transmit HIV. This is also known as Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U)

(*undetectable viral load defined as less than 200 copies/milliliter)

For more information on TaSP:

https://www.poz.com/basics/hiv-basics/treatmentasprevention-tasp
https://www.poz.com/tag/Undetectable
https://www.preventionaccess.org/consensus

Undetectable Equals Untransmittable, Tips on how to communicate U=U
https://www.poz.com/article/undetectable-equals-untransmittable

Undetectable Equals Untransmittable, Poster on how to communicate U=U
https://www.poz.com/pdfs/uequalsu_poster_2019.pdf

[Jim Allen]

Some additional tweaks sent in by PM.

Treatment as prevention (TasP)
Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U)

Antiretroviral medications (ARVs) are primarily used to suppress the virus. Taking HIV treatment (ART)  also offers the benefit of increasing the health & well-being of people living with the virus. There is now simply clear-cut proof of this.

As such the updated guidelines recommend not to delay treatment and, that anyone living with HIV should begin antiretroviral treatment as soon after diagnosis as possible, regardless of viral load or cd4 counts.

Treatment as prevention (TasP) refers to the use of antiretroviral (ARV) medication to prevent HIV transmission.

A person living with HIV (PLHIV), who is on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) and has achieved an undetectable viral load* in their blood for at least 6 months, can not sexually transmit HIV. This is also known as Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U)

(*undetectable viral load defined as less than 200 copies/milliliter)

For more information on TaSP:

https://www.poz.com/basics/hiv-basics/treatmentasprevention-tasp
https://www.poz.com/tag/Undetectable
https://www.preventionaccess.org/consensus

Undetectable Equals Untransmittable, Tips on how to communicate U=U
https://www.poz.com/article/undetectable-equals-untransmittable

Undetectable Equals Untransmittable, Poster on how to communicate U=U
https://www.poz.com/pdfs/uequalsu_poster_2019.pdf

[Jim Allen]

Okay so I created the sticky on the "Living with HIV" forum and added the same information in the existing "welcome thread" for "How do I prevent HIV" forum.

https://forums.poz.com/index.php?action=post;msg=755419

If anyone has additional suggestions though to add just post them here and we can change it if needed.

Thanks everyone for the input and messages so far, really appreciate it.

Jim

[Loa111]

Yes!
Great idea Jim. I think having it there, and indeed anywhere else you can put it where there is a lot of visitors and traffic is a great way to get the U=U message out to the public.

We need the world to know that HIV is not the bubonic plague!

[Jim Allen]

Yes!
Great idea Jim. I think having it there, and indeed anywhere else you can put it where there is a lot of visitors and traffic is a great way to get the U=U message out to the public.

We need the world to know that HIV is not the bubonic plague!

Thanks

You're welcome.

Okay so I created the sticky on the "Living with HIV" forum and added the same information in the existing "welcome thread" for "How do I prevent HIV" forum.

https://forums.poz.com/index.php?action=post;msg=755419

If anyone has additional suggestions though to add just post them here and we can change it if needed.

Thanks everyone for the input and messages so far, really appreciate it.

Jim

https://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=56561.0

[OneTampa]

Agree with previous points in discussion.

May I also add, given the word "Treatment" is in the sticky, it would also be helpful to link at the Meds, Mind, Body's Benefits: Questions About Treatment and Side Effects since it would be a natural information flow for readers to connect word cues and gain additional relevant information.

Hope my 5 Cents are helpful.

Take care,

OT

[Jim Allen]

Agree with previous points in discussion.

May I also add, given the word "Treatment" is in the sticky, it would also be helpful to link at the Meds, Mind, Body's Benefits: Questions About Treatment and Side Effects since it would be a natural information flow for readers to connect word cues and gain additional relevant information.

Hope my 5 Cents are helpful.

Take care,

OT

Yeah its good feedback. Ill have a play around with this out of sight on the mod forum and see how I can best format that, will keep you posted

Jim